A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Sao Paulo for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Bern or Sao Paulo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Bern

Bern is a cultural, historic, and charming city. With stunning beauty, Bern attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Bern travel costs.

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a cultural, dynamic, and vibrant city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

Bern and Sao Paulo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Sao Paulo?

You'll generally find more things to do in Sao Paulo than Bern. Sao Paulo is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Sao Paulo is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Sao Paulo is well known for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene. Also, Sao Paulo is famous for Ibirapuera Park.

How is Bern different from Sao Paulo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sao Paulo and Bern. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bern or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Sao Paulo that are not to be missed. While many visitors overlook Sao Paulo for other destinations in Brazil, those that do visit will be rewarded with a large number of museums and sights. It's the largest city in South America, and there's plenty to do. Highlights include Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, and the cathedral

Many visitors head to Bern specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is filled with architecture and charming character. While you're in town make sure you visit the Einstein Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Bern Cathedral.

Is the Food Better in Bern or Sao Paulo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sao Paulo is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Sao Paulo makes for a great culinary experience. The city offers a huge mix of fine dining restaurants, street food vendors, family-friendly restaurants, and large local markets. The cuisine has many influences such as the Portuguese, West Africa, and even the Middle East. Popular dishes include the street food coxinha, feijoada (black bean and beef stew), and cachooro-quente (local hot dogs).

Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo Better for Nightlife?

Sao Paulo is renowned for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Sao Paulo is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. As the economic hub for Brazil, you'll find tons of bars, clubs, and venues throughout the city. The best neighborhood for a party is Vila Madalena, which is filled with restaurants and bars. For live music and food trucks, check out Rua Augusta. There are also many different neighborhoods in this megacity, and many have a lively energy and plenty to do at night. Every night you should be able to find something different to do.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a great city for its historic old town charm. However, Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bern to see the historical old town. The charming old town is filled with quaint alleys and sandstone buildings. It's a compact area that flows down a hill to the River Aare.

Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo is renowned for shopping. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Sao Paulo is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The shopping opportunities are diverse, from megamalls to local markets, and international boutiques. There are many great neighborhoods for shopping, like Jardins, where you'll find high end stores. The main shopping street is Rua Oscar Freire. Downtown Sao Paulo has a mix of retail stores and market stalls that sell everything from cheap fashion to inexpensive odds and ins.

Bern is well-known for its shopping. The old town is filled with boutique shops and unique markets. The main shopping streets are Spitalgasse and Marktgasse and popular items to buy include jewelry, art, and watches.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo More Beautiful?

Bern is a great city for its scenery and beauty. However, Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Bern attracts visitors from all around. This beautifully preserved historic city has charm, personality, and a lot to do.

Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo Better for Families?

Bern is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Bern. This charming town has riverside parks and pools, a zoo, a waterpark, and kid-friendly museums that the whole family can enjoy. You can also visit nearby Gurten, a mountain with tobogganing, concerts, and a mini ski resort.

Sao Paulo is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy a visit to the zoo or one of the kid-friendly museums around town. There are also a number of parks, some kid-friendly restaurants, and even an amusement park.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo Better for Couples?

Bern is a great city for couples. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Bern is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Sao Paulo is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with culture and you'll find many great activities that will make for an exciting couples trip. There are parks and museums, bars and restaurants, and theaters where you can see a show. Many couples enjoy a visit to the Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo or a stroll through Ibirapuera Park. You can watch the sunset with a view of the city from one of the many rooftop bars and then enjoy some samba dancing on the town.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for backpackers. While it's overlooked by many travelers, backpackers who linger for awhile will enjoy the city's authenticity and cultural scene. There are also a number of hostels around town.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo Better for Students?

Sao Paulo is a popular place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for students. The city is large with a diverse population and plenty to offer students. There are good educational institutions and a great international vibe as well.

Bern is not popular with students.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sao Paulo is renowned for its public transit. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Sao Paulo has a great public transit system. It's a huge city, so you'll likely make use of the metro during your trip. There are six lines to the metro system and they provide convenient access to many of the city's top attractions. The city also has many bus routes as well.

The public transit in Bern can get you around easily. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Is Bern or Sao Paulo a more walkable city?

Bern and Sao Paulo both are very good when exploring on foot.

Bern is very walkable. It's fun to explore the old town on foot. It is compact enough to that you can see all of the highlights in a few hours.

Sao Paulo is a very walkable city. It's a megacity that has a wide range of neighborhoods. The city center is generally very walkable, but because of its size, you'll want to have an itinerary planned out for each day.

For even more information, also check out Is Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Sao Paulo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sao Paulo or Bern?

How long in Bern or Sao Paulo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bern and Sao Paulo. In our opinion, Sao Paulo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Sao Paulo than Bern. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sao Paulo.

Families should spend more time in Bern than Sao Paulo. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bern, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sao Paulo than Bern if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sao Paulo.

One day in Bern or Sao Paulo?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Bern. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bern has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Sao Paulo is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bern or Sao Paulo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Sao Paulo is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bern or Sao Paulo?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic city of Bern. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant big city of Sao Paulo. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Sao Paulo?

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The dynamic city of Sao Paulo offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Sao Paulo, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Sao Paulo is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Sao Paulo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sao Paulo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern than you might in Sao Paulo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bern or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Sao Paulo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Bern or Sao Paulo?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sao Paulo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Bern has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Sao Paulo. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bern is generally cooler than Sao Pauloin January. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It's quite rainy in Sao Paulo. Bern usually gets less rain in July than Sao Pauloin January. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Sao Paulo is the rainy season.

Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?

Both Sao Paulo and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Bern is much colder than Sao Paulo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.

In October, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sao Pauloin April. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Sao Paulo is June to August.

Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo in the Winter?

Both Sao Paulo and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bern can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Sao Paulo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 19°C (66°F)in July.

Bern usually gets more rain in January than Sao Pauloin July. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Sao Paulo.

Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Sao Paulo. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year.

In April, Bern is generally much colder than Sao Pauloin October. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin October. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Bern